Jeff Pickett here, guest-posting for Clipperblog. There are only two teams I have been a true fan of in my lifetime - the Blazoids, as I call them, and the Clips, or, as my dad calls them, the Paper Clips. (Let's just forget about that brief fling with the Charlotte Hornets in '88 - they were part of the first group of expansion teams in quite a while, and the teal uniforms looked really cool to a 13-year-old.) So when the Blazers and the Clippers do battle, which team do I root for? The Blazoids. Old habits die hard.

The story of the game was the Blazers' cohesion as a unit. Play ended with a tally of 109-99 Portland. Granted the Clips were 1-7 on the road entering the tilt, so a loss in the Rose Garden wasn't exactly earthshattering news. But remembering last year's teams, the result was quite a shocker. The Clippers enjoyed their best year in Los Angeles in '05-'06, while the Trailblazers posted the worst record in the Association.

EB came out firing on all cylinders, not to mention firing away, as he took 8 of 18 Clippers shots in the first. This in marked contrast to the game vs. the Blazers at Staples in early November, which John So and I attended, and in which Elton posted 8 points on 8 shots for the entire game. He put up 13 points in the first and seemed to be winning the power forward battle (vs. a top-5 MVP candidate so far this campaign in Zach Randolph, henceforth referred to as Z-bo; that sidebet ended as a chop). But despite hitting two of out every three shots they took, the Clippers found themselves down 32-27 to the usually low-scoring Blazers at the end of the first quarter.

The Clippers' up-and-down fortunes throughout the contest mirrored a rough plane flight up to PDX related by Ralph Lawler and Mike Smith (Lawler just had to get it out there that no less than 10 people, possibly including himself, had vomited during 72 minutes of turbulence). Every time the Clippers closed the gap, or even took a one-point lead on two occasions, the Blazers responded. By the end of the third, at which point Travis Outlaw laid one in on the fast break after Shaun Livingston was stripped, the writing was on the wall.

The Clips simply didn't have the fluidity and the communication that the Blazers had. Hard to imagine, but this proved itself time and time again. To my mind, the key to the Portland victory was the play of Ime Udoka, Portland's journeyman feel-good story. A veteran of 12 total games in the NBA prior to the season (4 with the Lakes in '04, 8 with the mighty Knicks last spring), Udoka has worked his way from twelfth man (he was signed in October) to the starting lineup. Udoka starred at Benson HS on Portland's now-hip East Side, then continued on to Portland State, which didn't become Division I all that long ago, and then began a quest for a spot in the most competitive team sport league in the world. Udoka went 5 for 6 from the field, including 3 well-timed treys in three tries. He posted 3 boards, 1 assist, 1 steal and a telling 5 fouls. The man (and at 29, we can really call him that) does whatever is asked of him. And when you combine that with Travis Outlaw's 15 in 19 minutes, Z-bo's 26, 7 and 5 assists, as well as 4 turnovers as a team in the entire game for the Blazoids, the outcome was inevitable.

So what were the bright spots for the Clips? Well, Shaun hit his first five attempts en route to 16 points, while also notching 10 assists, no small feat after a wrist injury which made him a game-time decision. Corey asserted himself to the tune of 18 points on a combination of strong drives and confident-looking jumpers. Hell, Q-Ross was 7 for 8 from the floor. The Clippers shot 59 percent, for Dunleavy's sake!
What was clear is that the magic of last season is not even close to there for Clips this go-round, and the Blazers have a lot to look forward to, especially with Brandon Roy returning from a perceived heel injury this Wednesday. Last year the once-moribund Clippers were the league's feel good story, but that torch has been passed. It rests in the hands of a cold-blooded baller by the name of Ime Udoka, and his fellow maturing rapscallions on the Portland (don't call us Jailblazers, now we only make obscene gestures to fans, at worst) Blazoids.

Posted Wednesday, October 29 at 3:20PM

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Comments

Okay Q's a great defender...But 34 minutes? At the sacrifice of our scorers' playing time when we're not facing a prolific scorer/pentrater like a parker? Really? I love the guy, his hustle and D. And i get the bowen comparisons. But we DONT have a duncan, parker, manu, etc.... instead we have under performing players. Is this part of the problem... Or, better put is it dunlevy? who, ain't going anywhere anytime soon. Give me AI...something to make these games worth my time... anything...PLEASE! I may like Q. But man is he boring to watch.

Q is a great defender and we're getting him at such a discount. At times we do need him out of the game. I don't think it's worth benching Maggette just so Q. Ross can guard so-and-so. He is boring to watch.. but, surprisingly, so is Livingston. There are flashes, but more of the latter.

Yes, lets get AI already. It'll open easier shots for TT, EB, and Caveman. I'd rather develop Ewing now instead of Livinston. He did have a good game, even though it was just the Blazers.

I love andrew's idea! Dunlevy, Mobley, livingston for AI. Brilliant. Sammy's ready to coach now anyway. I think the only problem would be Dunlevy's salary...could put them over the cap. I've argued with my Laker friedn for years that Mike D is a solid coach...while he thinks anyone who wears pimp suits from the 60s and runs a slow offense is a hack... I'm not agreeing with him yet - but dunlevy certainly doesn't deserve the contract he got with so little ability to motivate this unite to even compete.

I'm not real sure what the problem is so far this season. EB's dead legs...Kaman getting off to a slow start with some injuries and bad shooting...Maggette not being happy and that seeping into the team's psyche.

But it's been a real disappointment so far. But making one of these "blockbuster" trades will change the whole dynamic of the team, and Dunleavy's vision. I think if they make the trade, Dunleavy won't really have the ability to make his plans work.

You know, I'm tired of all this talk of EB's dead legs. You know, Dwayne Wade and all the rest of team usa basketball seem like they're doing okay this season. Why do we allow the notion that EB is tired? I think eb's problem is that the leauge adjusted to him, there are no shooters that can spread the floor for him and allow him to work down low, and the swagger and fire from the year prior are gone.

I still don't think our players are responsible for 'State of Clipper Nation' Mr.Dunleavy needs to work his mind during 48 min. of play. Not after the play. He is not quick in his response. He doesn't come up with crooked game plan to botch opposing teams style of play.

Let's look at seattle. They have Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis & Chris Wilcox alongwith some talented bunch. But still they can't find that formula for success.

Defending champ Miami is struggling too.
Cavaliers are hard pressed to maintain their high expectations. NYKnicks are loaded with salary caplets. But no success so far.

Last season, Sam Cassell looked after this team full time. This season he is making way to Shaun. Mobley is not delivering 15 plus points every game. Not having another scoring threat on the floor put Elton Brand on hot seat.
If we think AI is the answer for our troubles...we are dead wrong. Clippers may be the Answer for AI's troubles.

No team will welcome AI because the Answer doesn't care for that welcome mat. He'll think EB as his foe. Because he hates to share the ball. He's an isolationist. He is not going to worry about rest of his team-mates. Winning is not his concern. He wants to play hard because...that's the only way he can escape from his off the court turbulant life.Just like Kobe Bryant.

EB would no longer be the go to guy, Joe. He'd be a solid second scoring option, a devastating rebounder, a scary defender and a dangerous scoring presence in the post. But, AI would be the leading scorer of the team. I think Elton would be fine with that and so would clipper nation. I agree with dave about AI's game, but i do think, within a system, it's a good combo...

If AI has motivation to win and determined to pit himself against KOBE, his presence with Clips can stir a lot of interesting drama on and off the court. 2 philly bull-heads fighting for supremacy in lala land!

Right now there's too much burden on EB & SL to perform. That's wrong. Maggette gives 100% every game. I don't see anyone else stepping up. Not even Dunleavy. TT didn't expect early work-load from Clips when he signed the contract. He's feeling the pressure too. That's wrong. Unfortunately Kaman is immune to those pressure zone. Lucky guy.

Our coach is clueless in practical affairs of the game & business nature of it. One example: everyone knew about Maggette trade proposals. What do you do when you want to trade your asset(Maggs) & get something good in return? You make your man look good & prove to other trading partners about his value. To do that you let your man to play upto his potential. You start him until you trade him and let other interested parties know, that Maggette is one of our best players. Perception is everything.

But that did not happen. Because of Dunleavy, Maggs market value has diminished. Who will pay for this loss?
Mr.Sterling should ask.